Playmobil 4450 Bunny Spring Workshop When filling Easter Baskets for kids, it’s nice to include something that they can enjoy playing with for a long time. Why not add a set from Playmobil for Easter? I’ve written before about my love for the high quality Playmobil toys that encourage children to use their imagination–>Playmobil Toys. Not only are they well made, and…
Category: German Products I Love
Products that remind me of “home”
Steinbach Company in Germany- Still Making Erzgebirge Magic for the World
“We want to bring the Erzgebirge magic into peoples homes all over the world.” While scrolling through Facebook recently, I came across an interesting comment on the Steinbach Nutcracker fan page… it said that the Steinbach Company in Germany had been purchased, and the factory was up and running again. WHAT! I did some digging, and couldn’t find much……
Shopping for German School Supplies in Germany
My daughter, Katy, spent a Semester studying in Berlin. I’m delighted that she sent us a few posts about life as a California Girl in Germany. This week… shopping for German School supplies. Apparently, it’s not the same as it is here in California… All photos taken by Katy used with permission. There were many things I expected to be…
The Mainzelmännchen… Guud’n Aamd!
Cover image of Mainzelmännchen Michael Kramer, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Isn’t it nice how the little things can make you so happy? One distinctly German cartoon that brought me endless delight was the Mainzelmännchen! These little animated men on German TV would come on during the commercials in quick animated spots that just made us LAUGH. Over…
What is a Tante Emma Laden? A Corner Store with a Special History
Cover photo- My mom behind the counter of her father’s Laden. That’s me, the Daumenlutscher, on the right What is a Tante Emma Laden? Oddly, one of these shops holds a very important place in my life. My very first memory is of falling down the steps in front of my Opa’s Tante Emma Laden. (This had nothing to do…
Traditional German Games Kids and their Omas like to Play!
While I was growing up, my family played a LOT of traditional German Games. Games like Mensch Ärgere Dich Nicht, Mühle, Schwarzer Peter and Quartet. My Oma was part of a Doppelkopf group, and Dad loved Skat. We would play Stadt Land Fluß in the car to pass the time. Today, Board Games are undergoing a Renaissance of sorts. Newer,…
German Hand Blown Glass Ornaments-Delicate Christmas Gems on Your Tree
My heart broke a little bit last night when I heard the crash… a glass VW Bug ornament slipped from my hand and shattered on the wooden floor. I know, I know, they are only things… but some things have so much more value… both in emotional attachment and dollar signs. Luckily, it wasn’t one of the vintage German Hand-Blown…
How is the German Chancellor Elected?
The German election system may be confusing for people who live outside Germany. Just how is the German Chancellor elected? I will do my best to explain concisely and help you understand how their system works. For the record, I am not endorsing any German political party; this is just an informational article to help people get a handle on a…
Federweisser- All you Need to Know About this VERY Young Wine
When people think about traveling to Germany in the Fall, they often think Oktoberfest. BUT, the country has so much more to offer besides this well-known attractions! For example, Federweisser. What is Federweisser? It’s an alcoholic drink only available during the months of September and October. This is a real autumnal tradition for many Germans, particularly in the wine-growing regions…